Balto’s disposition had changed since leaving his home. He was usually rather grumpy and quiet, keeping to himself and everything, but with this new land he felt like he owed it to his brother and father (and Eridi, maybe?) to change how he used to be – to grow up. And with a new smile and a new heart (quite literally), Balto entered this new land with a totally different personality.
Though, when he was alone, (even though he could never be truly alone with Sitka around), he would stare at the stars like he used to do back home and wish with everything that was in him that his brother and Eridi were here with him, so they could see him in this way. But he had no idea where they were and he wasn’t content on going back to Liridon and being how he used to be. For now, Avenion would suit the blue mottled stallion and he would spend most of his days here.
Sitka sighs happily as she swims through the water, soaking her thick fur and cooling her hot skin. At one point she even dips her head beneath its cool surface, bubbles rising from where she blew air out of her nostrils. Balto watches this with a soft smile, glad that he could at least share his new land with her. Balto then realized that the bay mare’s companion, a small monkey, was now racing towards him. Quite shocked at such a sudden approach, the stallion leans back on his haunches and rears up slightly, his eyes rolling as he watched the flaming creature run circles around his dark legs. He snorts, trying to dodge the flames as well as her Axian, not wanting to step on him.
For what seems like forever, the monkey settles down and Balto could breathe easy. He could feel its eyes on him and that made Balto slightly nervous, but his keeper seemed to be more kind than the monkey was. Her name was Shakespeare and she invited him to a dip in the sparkling pool and quite honestly, he couldn’t resist. With a small nod he agrees, leaving the soft bank to wade in the water next to Shakespeare. Sitka pulls herself from the water just as Balto enters it, heavy with water. She shakes off most of it, her pink tongue lolling from the side of her mouth. She sits down on her haunches in front of the rock that Poe was sitting on him, her blue eyes staring at him intently. A wolfish smile is on the husky’s black lips, her ears pricked towards him with curiosity. Her tail wags slowly, awaiting this monkey’s next move.
As the water swirls around his barrel, Balto sighs contentedly. “This was a great idea,” he murmurs, closing his eyes momentarily to enjoy the coolness of the water and the warmth of the sun. After a moment he opens one eye and looks at Shakespeare quizzically before saying quite generally, “How are you?”
to be alone, to be dethroned,
. B A L T O .
believe me, i know all about it now.